The WNBA is about to have an attention-grabbing offseason. First issues first, the WNBA’s collective bargaining settlement (CBA) must be sorted out.
WNBA gamers selected to not take part within the settlement over a yr in the past. This offered ample time for negotiations. The deal runs out on Friday, Oct. 31, until it’s prolonged, which was essential to finalize the present CBA. Moreover, Toronto and Portland are set to hitch the WNBA as new groups. Ultimately, there can be an enlargement draft.
Listed here are the principle storylines for the WNBA offseason, assuming it begins on schedule.
Lockout, settlement, or extension?
Maybe Friday’s deadline will help transfer negotiations ahead. Nonetheless, it appears the gamers and the league are far aside in negotiations, so a lockout is the most definitely final result.
If there’s some motion between the 2 sides earlier than then, there could possibly be a 60-day extension to proceed talks, which might be the best-case state of affairs for the WNBA and its gamers.
Free-agent frenzy could possibly be the Wild West
As soon as an settlement is reached and a few parameters are set with a brand new CBA, it is going to seemingly set off a free-agent frenzy.
Most veteran gamers within the WNBA are unrestricted free brokers. The record contains names like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Mitchell, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas and nearly each big-name participant besides Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
It is laborious to think about gamers like Wilson leaving the Las Vegas Aces or Collier departing the Minnesota Lynx. Nonetheless, Ionescu hinted that leaving New York was a risk after an earlier-than-expected playoff exit.
The New York Liberty has a brand new head coach. But, if Ionescu re-signs with the franchise that drafted her, it is simple to see the Liberty reloading for an additional title run.
Minnesota, recent off a WNBA Finals loss in 2024, posted the perfect document within the league earlier than struggling within the playoffs following an harm to Collier. She can be re-signed, however a number of the items round her would possibly want to vary.
Constructing round Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever face some robust decisions.
The DeWanna Bonner signing was a mistake, as she requested to depart the workforce and signed with her former team, the Mercury.
Natasha Howard performed nicely, and even with out Clark, the Fever took Las Vegas to Recreation 5 within the WNBA semifinals. Clark and Aliyah Boston are every underneath contract. Lexie Hull is a restricted free agent, in order that’s a robust start line. Retaining Mitchell can be a precedence, however after her excellent season, it is troublesome to image her enjoying for some other workforce.
If Clark had been wholesome final season, Indiana might need been adequate to win all of it. The main target now must be on conserving the workforce collectively.
Dallas could be the extra intriguing workforce. Bueckers is a celebrity. If the Wings play their playing cards proper, there is no cause they cannot make an identical bounce as Indiana did in 2025.
The Fever’s document wasn’t pretty much as good with out Clark. Nonetheless, when at full power, they have been formidable, so some tweaks could be wanted, however no main adjustments.
Arike Ogunbowale has been the face of the Dallas franchise. Now it is Bueckers’ flip. Selecting to maintain Ogunbowale is Dallas’s first huge determination in an offseason stuffed with them, because the Wings attempt to replicate what Indiana has constructed round Clark.
